The U.S. official who oversaw distribution of Washington's aid to development programs in Egypt has abruptly left his post, amid criticism the United States has been improperly funding Egypt's pro-democracy groups.

Officials said Friday that the USAID director for Egypt, Jim Bever, had returned to Washington.

They denied his departure was a result of anti-American sentiment.

However, the departure comes a month after a high-ranking Egyptian official criticized Washington for funding non-governmental organizations without seeking Egyptian supervision. A member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, Major General Mohammed al-Assar, called the issue a “matter of sovereignty.”

Meanwhile, the Associated Press quotes a U.S. embassy spokeswoman as saying the U.S. funding does not interfere with Egyptian politics. Elizabeth Colton on Thursday described the groups that had received U.S. funding as politically neutral.